Stromnes Lab
In situ immunofluorescent detection of CD8+ T cells (yellow), PD-L1 (purple) and tumor cells (green) in pancreatic cancer. By Ellen Spartz.
The Stromnes laboratory is focused on advancing the understanding of cancer immunology and immunotherapy, with a particular emphasis on properties of the tumor and the tumor microenvironment that influence antigen-specific T lymphocyte migration and function. The laboratory aims to uncover how tumors and their mutations coordinate a suppressive microenvironment and elicit a program of T cell dysfunction. The lab is also focused on understanding the cellular and acellular components of tumor microenvironment that influence immunotherapy response. The laboratory combines studies of human tumors, genetically engineered mouse models that faithfully recapitulate human cancer, and novel cell engineering approaches evaluated in both mouse and human T cells to develop next generation cellular therapies for intractable malignancies, with a major focus on carcinomas including pancreatic cancer.
Recent Publication
Published in Cell Reports, Mike Patterson identified CD4+ T cells are drivers of anti-tumor macrophage polarization in pancreatic cancer. This publication was possible through the collaboration of the Stromnes lab and Williams lab!
Ebony Miller Scholarship at Howard University
Ebony, our dear friend and colleague, tragically passed last year before fulfilling her dream of attending Howard University College of Medicine, where she hoped to specialize in women's health. As an international student, Ebony faced serious financial hurdles which delayed her plans to attend medical school. To ease the burden faced by students like Ebony, we have set up a fundraiser to establish a scholarship for international students who wish to attend Howard's Medical School. Please consider donating here.
Center for Immunology
https://www.immunology.umn.edu/
Department of Microbiology & Immunology
https://www.microbiology.umn.edu/
University of Minnesota Medical School
News in the Stromnes Lab!
The Stromnes Lab has joined a collaboration between the Masonic Cancer Center and the Mayo Clinic. Through this partnership, the lab will investigate how to improve adoptive T cell therapies with labs across Minnesota. Read more here!
Awards & Fellowships
Immunology Training Grant (2T32AI007313) T32 awarded to Eduardo Cruz (2023).
PEW Cancer Research Fellow Nominees (2021)
Randy Shaver Cancer Research & Community Funds Awards (2021 -2022)
CRTI Award (2019 -2020)
AAI Intersect Fellowship Program for Computational Scientists and Immunologists (2019)
Grants
NIH/NCI F31
Awarded to Zoe Schmiechen's proposal "Elucidating the Role of Tregs in Cancer Metastasis and T Cell Dysfunction"
NIH/NCI R01
‘Enhancing engineered T cell therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma’
NIH/NCI R01
‘Mechanisms of immunotherapy response and resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma’
Department of Defense
‘Manipulating myeloid cells to promote immunotherapy efficacy of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma’
AIRP Individual PI Award
‘Discovery of immunotherapy targets in pancreatic and ovarian cancer using a Sleeping Beauty transposon system’
American Cancer Society Research Scholars Grant
'Co-opting myeloid cells to enhance immunotherapy efficacy of cancer'
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Catalyst Grant
‘Overcoming immunotherapy resistance in pancreas cancer’